TRUCE, THE

SYNOPSIS:
This is the story of homecoming for Primo Levi (John Turturro), a
young Italian chemist, who was a prisoner at Auschwitz. At the
end of the war, when Primo is released, the journey home to
Turin, Italy, is a long one. Together with an assortment of
travelling companions, Primo struggles to find his way, to
rediscover life, as well as coping with the realities of
travelling from Poland to Italy post war.

"This powerful film is an obvious labour of love from
Francesco Rosi. With great cinematic skill, this true and moving
story is of the fear that freedom brings and the steep return
journey to Ďnormalí life, after the experience of
Auschwitz. John Turturro is extraordinary as Primo, the
pharmacist, anxious to return home to Italy. His performance is
soulful, moody, empathetic and totally convincing. The journey of
his survival is rediscovering the simplest of things: how to
laugh and cry, to come to terms with the horror witnessed,
rediscovering his sexuality, embracing camaraderie. His
friendship with The Greek (masterfully played by Rade Serbedzija)
is complex and succinctly explained: "the master at dawn,
the teacher at noon, the older brother by dusk." Although
serious in content with many haunting and disturbing images, The
Truce is not a depressing film by any means. It embarks on a
journey of hope. Luis Bacalovís rousing and spirited musical
score reflects much of the passion and nostalgia experienced:
soulful violins, heavenly flutes, heralding trumpets and oomphy
orchestrations that allow our emotions and sensitivities to be
touched. Music knows no boundaries or wars. Hearing strains of
Vivaldiís Four Seasons, while watching a flock of geese
wander wild, is a feast for eyes, ears and the soul. The scene at
Munich railway station, where Primo has the courage to ask for
retribution from a German railway worker, is one that passes
without a word, but is so effective. Primo moves his jacket,
revealing his Auschwitz identification number: the German
acknowledges him on his bended knees. This is a journey that
glimpses the very worst, and also the finest of the human spirit.
Donít miss it."
Louise Keller

"While marvelling at the many fine things in this film
(all the ones Louise mentions above), one could be forgiven for a
criticism about the tone of the film, which is both overly
reverential of the central character, Primo Levi, and gives a
rather self satisfied view of him, ending up preaching to us
Ė unnecessarily - in the final scene. Not that it isnít
deserved, but the stringency of understatement is missing. This
is the only niggling and consistent weakness in a film which
establishes Turturro as a truly great actor. The scale of the
production is impressive and creatively excellent: the exteriors
of post war Europe are achingly evocative, and the attention to
detail in costuming and make up are the best that Italian
filmmakers can deliver. So is the photography of De Santis. It is
a tragic and curious footnote that in 1987, just one week after
agreeing to the filming of his book recounting these experiences,
Primo Levi took his own life. Perhaps that had some
(subconscious?) influence on director Francesco Rosiís
treatment."
Andrew L. Urban